Combination fashion boot top garment and bootie

ABSTRACT

A boot top garment and bootie comprises a plurality of horizontally spaced apart panels and boning stitched or otherwise fastened together designated to wrap around the wearer&#39;s leg and a closure system between the edges of the panels stitched or otherwise fastened together enabled for zipper-action fastening, or may be constructed as simple apertures and boot lace-action fastening for drawing the panels into a continuous closed loop forming the boot top garment for improved structure, support, fit and comfort. The bootie comprises a plurality of panels stitched or otherwise fastened together designated to wrap around the wearer&#39;s foot. A normally exposed upper portion and a lower peripheral edge provide ventilation for the wearer&#39;s skin with comfort. The boot top garment is permanently attached at a seam between the panels used in construction of the bootie forming the boot top garment and bootie combination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to leg warmers and socks especially leg warmers-like fashion boot top garments with sock-like foot inserts and more particularly to such a fashion boot top garment and bootie capable of simulating the appearance of wearing boots when worn with shoes, providing a novel form of leg, ankle, and foot apparel that is fitted to the calf area of the leg of the wearer as opposed to a specific shoe size, preventing sweat and foot odor caused by wearing traditional boots, and providing warmth and comfort with ease of use, caring, cleaning and storing.

2. Description of Related Art

For years manufacturers continue to develop fashion boots but have not been able to provide the same to a wearer with too large or too thin calves in proportion to their foot size. Especially since traditional boots are formed of stiff material, typically leather, plastic, canvas, or the like, and since the upper is connected to the sole by means of stitching, adhesive, or the like, the size of the boot top is generally fixed to a particular foot size, and as this occurs, the size of the boot top must be commensurate with the foot size. If the size is too big or too small, it will not fit properly and will provide discomfort, and frequently damage to the wearer's foot. Further significant problems caused by traditional boots include costs of caring and cleaning, as boots need to be taken to the shoemaker or cobbler to be professionally repaired and cleaned. Furthermore, traditional boots tend to suffocate the flesh and cause sweat and foot odor, and this can cause rashes and discomfort to the wearer. Therefore, novel boot alternatives have been produced in the prior art to enable the wearer to wear boot-like leg and foot coverings to provide protection, warmth and comfort that are fitted to the calves as opposed to a specific shoe size. Such boot alternatives, however, present a problem as gaiters and leg warmers are used as coverings for legs extending from ankle to knee, and this causes a second item to be worn to cover the foot. Furthermore, although a traditional boot is a single covering for the foot and leg, the boot is distinguished from the shoe, legging, leg warmer, sock and so on. Especially where a boot sock is a single covering for the foot and leg, such boot socks tend not to provide the leg support and structure that a boot top offers, and this causes the collapse of the boot sock exposing the leg. The following abstracts define the present state of this field in contending with these problems.

Holder, U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,580: This sock is characterized by a stay up cuff including an outwardly turned welt integrally knit with the top of the leg of the sock and a single-ply edge portion having an upper edge integrally knit with the lower edge of the outwardly turned welt and with the top of the leg portion of the sock. The single-ply edge portion is adapted to extend down over the covers the upper edge of the boot to aid in preventing the sock from being drawn down into the boot and to aid in preventing the entry of dirt, snow and the like into the boot. The outwardly turned welt extending upwardly above the single-ply edge portion snugly engages the leg of the wearer and aids in preventing the entry of dirt, snow and the like inside of the upper edge of the sock.

Thorneburg, U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,307: This sock is particularly adapted for wear with western type boots and includes an upper leg portion knit with stretchable yarn having wear-resistant characteristics and a lower leg portion knit with non-stretchable yarn having moisture wicking characteristics. Elastic yarn is incorporated in predetermined repeating courses throughout the entire leg and cooperates with the stretchable yarn in the upper leg portion to provide resiliency for firmly supporting the leg of the sock on the leg of the wearer and cooperates with the moisture wicking characteristics of the yarn in the lower leg portion to remove moisture from the leg of the wearer. The upper and lower leg portions are of substantially the same length and are joined together at substantially the medial portion of the enlarged calf area of the leg of the wearer so that the upper edge of the western boot engages the upper wear-resistant portion of the leg of the sock.

Harmsen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,812: A warm and inexpensive legging is manufactured from a single piece of material. The material is cut into a blank having a generally rectangular leg section and a generally trapezoidal foot section. The leg and foot sections are separated by V-shaped darts in the periphery of the blank, the points of which are joined by a transverse fold line of material. The blank is folded along the fold line until the respective margins of the darts abut, and the margins are sewn to each other. The foot section is folded along a longitudinal fold line, and the edges are sewn together, thereby forming a foot enclosure. The leg section extends up the leg of a wearer. The longitudinal edges of the leg section wrap around the wearer's leg and are loosely joined by adjustable releasable fasteners.

Wruck, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,126: Leg warmers which include a panel having at least one layer of thermal insulation and a closure system. The panel is designated to wrap around the wearer's leg from foot to crotch, and the closure system provides an essentially moisture and airtight seam between the edges of the panel. The leg warmers feature: (1) the combination of a zipper-type fastener and a pile- or snap-type fastener which holds the leg warmer on the wearer's leg, making it easier to start and close the zipper; (2) multiple zipper slides which also make it easy to provide ventilation; (3) pile-type fasteners at the bottom of the leg warmer which allows it to be adjusted to a snug, air, snow, and moisture excluding fit with the wearer's leg; (4) an adjustable suspender for attaching the leg warmer to the wearer's belt and thereby holding it up; and (5) various combinations of the foregoing, innovative features.

Bleimhofer, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,584: A sock-like shoe insert is provided which incorporates an upper of waterproof, water-vapor permeable functional layer for waterproof, breathable footwear and a sole of a waterproof, non-porous plastic film that can be stretched in two directions.

Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,257: A combination of a gaiter member attached to a sock member in various embodiments creates a gaiter-sock combination, which simply and efficiently provides barrier protection to a lower body extremity. The gaiter portion may protect a sock portion, or the inside of a boot or shoe, or various combinations of them, from debris, insects, arachnids, thorns, burrs, and the like.

Challe, U.S. Pat. No. 6,785,983: A boot of the type having an upper equipped with a lacing zone, a tongue located under the lacing zone and a gaiter fixed to the upper edge of the upper. The gaiter is made of an extensible material, and it is fixed along the upper edge of the tongue of the upper. Advantageously, the tongue is equipped at its upper end with an extensible pocket for storing the lacing system.

The prior art search with abstracts described above teaches: a boot sock with stay-up cuff and method, a boot sock, leggings, leg warmers, a sock-like shoe insert, a gaiter-sock combination, and a boot provided with a gaiter. However, the prior art does not teach a fashion boot top garment and bootie as a novel boot alternative distinguished from the boot, shoe, legging, leg warmer, and sock alike, that is fitted to the calf area of the leg of the wearer as opposed to a specific shoe size of the wearer simulating the appearance of wearing boots when worn with shoes, capable of venting heat form the wearer's skin, and providing warmth and comfort with ease of use, caring, cleaning and storing. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention provides a boot top garment and bootie that synthesizes bootie design with boot top design to create a new form of leg, ankle, and foot apparel for informal wear, warmth and comfort as distinguished from the boot, shoe, legging, leg warmer and sock alike. The boot top garment and bootie is generally suited for simulating the appearance of wearing traditional boots when worn with shoes, and is particularly suited for fitting the calf area of the leg of the wearer as opposed to the shoe size of the wearer, especially for those typically wearing traditional boots, as it is desirable to prevent sweat and foot odor caused from wearing boots, and is especially desirable to provide ease of use, caring, cleaning and storing.

The present invention comprises a boot top garment portion for covering the calf area of the leg of the wearer integrally connected to a bootie portion for covering the foot of the wearer, with means to secure the boot top garment and bootie in place. The boot top garment portion may be variously sized to fit the width of the calf area of the leg of the wearer and may extend up the leg of a wearer at various heights. Similarly, the bootie portion may be so dimensioned to accommodate feet of various widths and lengths.

The boot top garment portion comprises a plurality of horizontally spaced apart panels coupled with boning, piping, interfacings, linings or blends of these or other materials stitched or otherwise fastened together designated to wrap around the wearer's leg and a closure system between the edges of the panels stitched or otherwise fastened together enabled for zipper-action fastening, or may be constructed as simple apertures and boot lace-action fastening for drawing the panels into a continuous closed loop forming the boot top garment for improved structure, support, fit and comfort. Similarly, the bootie portion comprises a plurality of panels constructed of materials to give stretch in one or both directions designated to wrap around the wearer's foot, the edges stitched or otherwise fastened together, thereby forming the foot enclosure for improved fit and comfort.

The boot top garment and bootie may be made from any suitable natural or synthetic fabric material stitched or otherwise fastened together to form the boot top garment and bootie capable of venting heat from the wearer's skin. The means for securing the boot top garment and bootie together may encompass any means known in the art of securing fabric. Because the present invention is made of fabric materials the boot top garment and bootie are easy to use, care, and clean as opposed to traditional boots which need to be taken to the shoemaker or cobbler for the same. Furthermore, since the boot top garment and bootie is an apparel item it can be easily stored in a dresser drawer as opposed to the space needed to store traditional boots. The present novel solutions are inexpensive, easy to wear and care for, prevent discomfort and damage to the wearer's foot caused when the wearer's calf size is not in the traditional proportionate size to the wearer's shoe size, is comfortable to wear, and provides venting for further comfort of the wearer's skin.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a fashion boot top garment and bootie and method of making and using such fashion boot top garment and bootie that yields advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of providing a novel boot alternative for informal wear with warmth and comfort as distinguished from the boot, shoe, legging, leg warmer, and sock alike.

A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of providing structure, support, and fit to the calf area of the leg of the wearer as opposed to a specific shoe size of the wearer simulating the appearance of wearing boots when worn with shoes.

A still further objective is to provide such an invention capable of providing ventilation for venting and comfort of the wearer's skin preventing foot odor caused by sweat from wearing boots.

A final objective is to provide such an invention capable of providing ease of use, caring, cleaning, and storing.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, shown in use worn with shoes;

FIG. 2 is a perspective front view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention showing one of the sides thereof;

FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention corresponding side thereof, showing closure system with zipper-type fastener;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the present invention taken along cutting lines 66 in FIGS. 4 and 8 showing boning used for additional structure and support of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention showing closure system with apertures joined by a link of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective rear view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention in at least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications in the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of example and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined in the following.

The present invention, in one embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, is a boot top garment having a closure system and bootie comprising in combination, a boot top garment 10 intended to be worn around the calf area of the leg of the wearer. The boot top garment 10 having a pair of horizontally spaced apart opposing side portions 12 and 12′ and having a normally exposed upper portion 14 and an initially open interior 16 which is defined between the upper portion 14 and a lower peripheral edge 18 capable of venting heat from the wearer's skin, thereby a chamber formed between the exposed upper portion 14 and a lower peripheral edge 18. Preferably, boning 20 is permanently attached at a seam between panels 12, 12′ respectively used in construction of the boot top garment. See FIG. 6. The opposing side portions 12, 12′ having a first portion 30 providing at least one, and preferably plural panels 32, the panels having a first edge and a second edge 34 and 36 and a second portion 40 providing at least one, and preferably plural pairs of horizontally spaced apart panels 42 and 52 in mutual opposition. The panels each having a first edge 44 and 54 and a second edge 46 and 56, the first edges 44 and 54 are adapted by their conformation, for mutual engagement with first portion 30 first and second edges 34, 36 respectively. A closure system 60 comprises a first fastening means 62 adapted for engagement with one of the second edges 46 and a second fastening means 64 adapted for engagement with a corresponding second edge 56. The first and second fastening means 62 and 64 are adapted by their conformation, for mutual engagement for drawing the panels into a continuous closed loop forming the boot top garment 10 for improved structure, support, fit and comfort. A bootie 70 intended to be worn on the foot of the wearer comprises a bootie 70 having a lower portion formed from at least one, and preferably plural panels 72 designated to wrap around the wearer's foot. The panels 72 having a first edge 74 and a second edge 76, the edges stitched together, a bottom edge 78 being stitched at a seam between panels, thereby forming the foot enclosure and having an initially open interior 22 which is defined between the lower portion 72 and an upper peripheral edge 24 such that lower peripheral edge 18 and upper peripheral edge 24 are respectively secured, wherein the boot top garment 10 is integral with the bootie 70 forming the boot top garment 10 and bootie 70 combination. This relationship is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Preferably, the first and second fastening means 62, 64 of the closure system 60 are made of a zipper-type fastener enabled for being joined by a zipper action between second edges 46, 56. Such zipper action fasteners are well known in the art, so that further discussion is not present.

In an alternate second embodiment 80 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first and second portions 30, 40 are replaced with first and second portions 90 and 110. A pair of horizontally spaced apart opposing side portions 82 and 82′ having a normally exposed upper portion 84 and an initially open interior 86 which is defined between the upper portion 84 and a lower peripheral edge 88 capable of venting heat from the wearer's skin, thereby a chamber formed between the exposed upper portion 84 and a lower peripheral edge 88. Preferably, boning 20 is permanently attached at a seam between panels 82, 82′ respectively used in construction of the boot top garment. See FIG. 6. The opposing side portions 82, 82′ having a first portion 90 providing at least one, and preferably plural pairs of horizontally spaced apart panels 92 and 102 in mutual opposition, the panels each having a first edge 94 and 104 and a second edge 96 and 106 and a second portion 110 providing at least one, and preferably plural panels 112, the panels each having a first edge and a second edge 114 and 116. First portion 90 first edges 94, 104 are adapted by their conformation, for mutual engagement with second portion 110 first and second edges 114, 116 respectively. In this embodiment, the closure system used may be the same closure system 60 used, as described above. Alternatively, a different closure system 120 may comprise of the second edges 96, 106 each having a series of vertically spaced apart apertures 122 and 122′ respectively, therein. Each of the apertures 122 in one of the second edges 96 forms a horizontally displaced pair of apertures 122, 122′ with a corresponding one of the apertures 122 of the other of the second edges 106. The apertures 122, 122′ are joined by a boot-lace 124 action for mutual engagement through a selected one of the pairs of apertures 122, 122′ when the pairs of apertures are brought into mutual alignment for drawing the panels into a continuous closed loop forming the boot top garment 80 for improved structure, support, fit and comfort. Such aperture and boot-lace action fasteners are well know in the art, so that further discussion is not present. The bootie used in this embodiment may be the same bootie 70 used, as described above.

In further describing the present invention it may be seen that the panels 42 and 52 or 92 and 102, have horizontally aligned spaced apart first engagement elements; second edges 46 and 56 or 96 and 106 and a closure system 60 and 120 comprising a linking means portion with second engagement elements 62 and 64 or 122 and 124 adapted for engaging one of the pairs of first engagement elements, for drawing the panels into a continuous closed loop forming the boot top garment 10 or 80 for improved structure, support, fit and comfort. The bootie 70 used in either embodiment 10 or 80 may be the same bootie 70 used, as described above.

Preferably, the boot top garment portion 10 or 80 may be comprised of a plurality of panels for covering the calf area of the leg of the wearer integrally connected to a bootie portion 70 for covering the foot of the wearer, with means to secure the boot top garment and bootie in place. The boot top garment portion 10 or 80 may be variously sized to fit the width of the calf area of the leg of the wearer and may extend up the leg of a wearer at various heights. Similarly, the bootie portion 70 may be so dimensioned to accommodate feet of various widths and lengths. In a preferred embodiment, the boot top garment portion 10 or 80 is shown in a generally rectangular shape with a tongue portion extending therefrom and the bootie portion 70 is shown in a generally trapezoidal shape, however, the boot top garment and bootie may be designed in any shape to best accommodate the needs of the wearer.

Preferably, the boot top garment 10 or 80 and bootie 70 may be made from any suitable natural or synthetic material such as cotton, satin, silk, nylon, polyester, rayon, spandex or blends of these or other materials stitched or otherwise fastened together to form the boot top garment 10 or 80 and bootie 70 capable of venting heat from the wearer's skin. In a preferred embodiment, the boot top garment portion 10 or 80 further comprises boning, piping, interfacings, linings or blends of these or other materials stitched or otherwise fastened together for improved structure, support, fit and comfort. In a preferred embodiment, the bootie 70 portion is constructed of materials made of knits, boucle, lycra combined with nylon, cotton, linen, and wool or blends of these or other materials to give stretch in one or both directions stitched or otherwise fastened together to form the bootie for improved fit and comfort. Because the present invention is made of fabric materials the boot top garment 10 or 80 and bootie 70 are easy to use, care, and clean as opposed to traditional boots which need to be taken to a shoemaker or cobbler for the same. Furthermore, since the boot top garment 10 or 80 and bootie 70 is an apparel item it can be easily stored in a dresser drawer as opposed to the space needed to store traditional boots.

Preferably, the means for securing the boot top garment 10 or 80 and bootie 70 in place may encompass any means known in the art of securing materials made of fabric, including, but not limited to, stitching, crossbars, buttons and button holes, stud and snaps, hook and eye fasteners, zipper type fasteners, apertures and boot lace fasteners, drawstrings and hook and loop fasteners (commonly known by the Velcro® brand). In a preferred embodiment, the boot top garment 10 or 80 and bootie 70 comprising of a plurality of panels may be secured, stitched or otherwise fastened together to form the boot top garment 10 or 80 and bootie 70, and closure system 60 or 120 may be secured, stitched or otherwise fastened together to form the boot top garment 10 or 80 and bootie 70 for improved fit and comfort. These and other constructional features of the present invention add further benefits in fit and form during wear.

The enablements described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of the instant invention and to the achievement of the above described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word or words describing the element.

The definitions of the words or elements of this described invention and its various embodiments are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the invention and its various embodiments below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim.

Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope of the invention and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. The invention and its various embodiments are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that the inventor(s) believe that the claimed subject matter is the invention. 

1. A boot top garment and bootie comprising in combination: a pair of horizontally spaced apart opposing side portions having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion formed from a plurality of panels, the panels stitched together forming seams between said panels, said first portion having a first edge and a second edge, said second portion formed from a plurality of pairs of horizontally spaced apart panels in mutual opposition, the panels stitched together forming seams between said panels, said second portion pairs each having a first edge and a second edge; said second portion first edges being permanently attached at a seam between first portion first and second edges, respective; a closure system comprising a linking means portion with second engagement elements adapted for engaging one of the pairs of first engagement elements, for drawing the panels into a continuous closed loop forming the boot top garment for improved structure, support, fit and comfort; said boot top garment having a normally exposed upper portion and an initially open interior which is defined between the upper portion and a lower peripheral edge capable of venting heat from the wearer's skin; and a bootie comprising a lower portion formed from a plurality of panels, the panels stitched together forming seams between said panels, said lower portion having a first edge and a second edge stitched together and a bottom edge being stitched at a seam between panels used in construction of the bootie; said bootie having an initially open interior which is defined between the lower portion and an upper peripheral edge, said lower peripheral edge and upper peripheral edge are permanently attached at a seam between the panels used in construction of the boot top garment and bootie.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the linking means comprises a zipper-type fastener and the first engagement elements are panel second edges.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the linking means comprises apertures and boot-lace fasteners and the first engagement elements are panel second edges.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the boot top garment portion further comprises boning, piping, interfacings, linings or blends of these or other materials stitched or otherwise fastened together to form the boot top garment for improved structure, support, fit and comfort.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the boot top garment includes means for securing the boot top garment to the bootie.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the boot top garment is constructed of material made of fabric for structure, support, fit and comfort.
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the bootie is constructed of material made of fabric for comfort. 